An elder statesman in Rivers State, Kingsley Wenenda Wali, has urged residents of the state to remain calm and avoid emotional reactions amid the renewed political disagreement between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
Wali described the unfolding events as “just politics,” stressing that disagreements of this nature are common wherever politicians contest power. According to him, the rift reflects a fallout between two political actors who jointly secured power but later became divided over the terms of that arrangement.
He cautioned against interpreting the dispute as evidence that Rivers State is failing, insisting that political disagreements should not be exaggerated into a crisis capable of dividing the people.
However, Wali expressed concern over the alleged pre-election agreement reached between Governor Fubara and the FCT minister ahead of the 2023 governorship election. He noted that the refusal of both men to disclose the details of the agreement has made it difficult for Rivers people to fully understand the root of the disagreement.
According to him, only transparency about the terms of such an agreement would allow the public to make informed judgments about whether any party acted in bad faith.
“What is happening in Rivers State is nothing but politics, and I don’t think people should bother too much about the antics of politicians,” Wali said.
“Governor Siminalayi Fubara and the FCT Minister sat down and reached an agreement. My concern is that neither of them has come out to tell us exactly what they agreed on. Until that happens, it will be difficult to properly assess who is right or wrong.”
Wali said it would be unfair for anyone to enter into a political agreement, renege on it, and still expect public sympathy. He added that if such an agreement was not in the best interest of Rivers people, there is a moral obligation to acknowledge it and take corrective action.
“What did they agree on? Was it in the best interest of Rivers people?” he asked. “You cannot engage in a conversation, walk away from it, and then pretend everything is fair and just.”
Drawing a historical comparison, Wali referenced former President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, who publicly admitted that the election that brought him to power was flawed and committed himself to electoral reforms.
He also criticised attempts to portray the current governor as blameless, arguing that no individual can benefit from the excesses of a previous administration and later claim moral innocence.
Wali recalled events surrounding the 2023 governorship election, alleging that supporters of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) camped for weeks at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) office to prevent the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Tonye Cole, from obtaining certified true copies of election materials for his legal challenge.
According to him, benefiting from such actions and later claiming moral superiority amounts to hypocrisy.
“You cannot benefit from fraud and then expect me to describe you as an angel,” Wali said. “People camped at INEC to stop Tonye Cole from accessing verified election documents. You benefit from that process and then come to claim innocence. That is not acceptable.”
He urged Rivers people to critically examine both pre-election and post-election developments and ask whether political actors truly acted in the long-term interest of the state.
Wali further observed that political oppression and mismanagement are not new to Rivers State, noting that the current situation follows a familiar pattern.
He concluded that the disagreement between Governor Fubara and Minister Wike would eventually resolve itself, insisting that it remains a political matter and not a crisis that should divide the people of Rivers State.
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